Process for treating grain

ABSTRACT

A steeping tank is filled with grain and then with water. The water is then circulated continuously through the steeping tank and recirculated through a heating device and pump such that the temperature in the tank is controlled. When the temperature in the tank is uniform, and has reached a desired temperature, the water pump is closed and air is then pumped into the tank until it reaches a desired pressure. Water is then circulated downwardly through the vessel so that the grain will form a suitable globule and homogenize to become a solid substance. The water in the tank is then removed which simultaneously releases the pressure in the vessel and thereafter the grain is removed.

1 United States Patent [151 3,637,399 Neel [451 Jan. 25, 1972 1 PROCESSFOR TREATING GRAIN OTHER PUBLICATIONS [72] Inventor: James H. Neel, 6217Ariel, Houston, Har- Starch: Chemistry Technology, whistel" ed risCounty, Tex. 77036 Vol. ll, 73 78, Academic Press, New York, 1967.

[ Filed! P 1970 Primary ExaminerMorris.O. Wolk Assistant Examiner-SidneyMarantz [21] App! 30656 Attorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews [52] U.S. C1..99/80 PS, 127/23, 127/28, 57 ABSTRACT 127 68 [51] Int Cl I I CHI 4 Asteeping tank is filled with grain and then with water. The Field 5water is then circulated continuously through the steeping 99/80 tankand recirculated through a heating device and pump such that thetemperature in the tank is controlled. When the tem- [56] Referencescued perature in the tank is uniform, and has reached a desiredtemperature, the water pump is closed and air is then pumped into UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the tank until it reaches a desired pressure. Water isthen circulated downwardly through the vessel so that the grain willl,68l ,l18 8/1928 Jaschke ..l27/67 form a suitable globule andhomogenize to become 3 n 2,358,251 Hutzenlaubfl- PS substance. The waterin the tank is then removed which simul- 2,494544 1/1950 Erllch "99/80PS taneously releases the pressure in the vessel and thereafter the3,181,955 5/1965 Altman ..99/80 PS grain is removed.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PROCESS FOR TREATING GRAIN CROSS REFERENCESTO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to my applicationfor Steeping Tank, Ser. No. 30,658, which was filed Apr. 22, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a new and improved method for treating grain.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art the treatment of grainto homogenize the starch globules or other globules required a vacuumsystem to be used in conjunction with the steeping tank. Of course, suchvacuum-system was expensive to install and required utmost care andmaintenance. For example, if the vacuum was not sufficiently low, theglobule formed was not a solid substance which meant that the grainmight crack or break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention relates to a newand improved method for treating grain including the steps of filling asteeping tank with rice and water, recirculating the water through thetank, heating the water until the water in the tank has risen to adesired temperature, increasing air pressure in the tank, circulatingthe air pressure in the tank through the water and grain, and thereaftersimultaneously draining out the water and releasing the pressure so thatthe grain can be removed for steaming in a continuous process steamvessel.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedprocess for treating grain. Still another object of the presentinvention is to provide a new and improved process for treating grainwherein the step of providing a vacuum system for the steeping tank hasbeen eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTAs illustrated in the drawing, a steeping tank is generally designatedby the numeral 10, and includes a cylindrical hollow body 11 and aninlet dome-shaped end member 12 secured at one end and a funnel-shapedoutlet end member 13 secured at the other end of such cylindrical body11. As further illustrated in the FIGURE, a plurality of verticallypositioned legs 15 are welded to one end 15a to the cylindrically shapedbody I1 and rest on horizontally positioned members 15b to position thesteeping tank in a vertical position as illustrated. As furtherillustrated, cross supports 16 are provided for giving added support tothe legs 15.

While the operation of the steeping tank 10 may be explained in somedetail, it is to be understood that the explicit details and operationof the steeping tank and its various conduits is set forth in moredetail in my copending application for Steeping Tank.

An inlet grain conduit 20 communicates with the inlet member 12 at oneend 20a thereof and is provided with a suitable closure member 21 at theopposite end 20b. Of course, the closure member 21 may be of the typethat is bolted on to the conduit 20 or may be suitable for threading onto the end 20b if desired.

A pair of air conduits 25 communicate with the inlet grain conduit 20for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

A flow conduit 27 communicates with the grain conduit 20 and receives aninlet circulation conduit 28 and an overflow discharge conduit 29. Thecirculation inlet conduit 28 is secured with circulation conduit 32which extends downwardly toward the outlet end member 13. Thecirculation conduit 32 is also provided with suitable valves V in eachend thereof and an air circulation pump P as illustrated.

The overflow conduit 29 is secured with a suitable fluid circulationconduit 38 which extends downwardly toward the outlet end member 13, asdoes the circulation conduit 32. Fluid circulation conduit 38 alsoincludes a pair of valves V1 positioned adjacent the inlet andoutlet'end members 12 and 13, respectively, and a pump P for circulatingfluid through the tank as will be set forth hereinafter. Also, asuitable heater device 39 is mounted with such conduit 38 for heatingthe fluids as they pass through such device.

The outlet member 13 is connected at its lower end l3a to an outletgrain conduit 40 which is provided with a closure member 41 connected toa head 40a of the conduit 40. Of course, the closure member 41 isadapted to be sealed and may be secured with the head 40a by anysuitable means such as nuts and bolts or threadedly engaging the closuremember 41 to the head 40a. An outlet circulation conduit 42 communicateswith the outlet grain conduit 40 and is secured with the circulationconduit 32 as illustrated. An inlet fluid conduit 43 also communicateswith the outlet grain conduit 40 and is secured by any suitable meanssuch as nuts and bolts to the fluid circulation conduit 38 asillustrated.

As further illustrated in the FIGURE, The fluid supply and fluid drainconduit 50 is mounted with fluid circulation conduit 38 for providing ameans for injecting and draining fluid from the system. It should alsobe noted that such conduit 50 includes a valve V2 for preventingcommunication between the conduits 50 and 38 if desired.

In the operation of the process, grain such as rice, for example, ispoured in through the conduit 20 into the vessel 11. Water or any othersuitable fluid is pumped into the tank from the conduit 50 into conduit38 and upwardly through the outlet grain outlet 40 until the tank 11 isfull. Of course, the valve V in the conduit 50 is closed as are thevalves V in the conduit 32. The pump P' is then started and the water iscirculated in the direction of the arrow 500 through the fluidcirculation conduit 38, the heating device which raises the temperatureof the water to a desired temperature level, the pump P and through theconduit 29 for continuous recirculation until the temperature in thevessel is uniform throughout the vessel and has reached the desiredlevel. For example, in using rice as the grain, it is desirable for thetemperature to be substantially in the range from F. to F.

The pump P is then shut down and the valves V1 in the fluid circulationconduit 38 are closed. Thereafter, valves V3 communicating with the airinlet conduits 25 are open to permit air to be pumped under pressureinto the vessel until the pressure or pounds per square inch in thevessel reaches a desired level. As an example, in the use of rice, it isdesirable for the air pressure to reach around 80 pounds per squareinch.

Thereafter, the valves V3 in the air circulation conduit 25 are closedand the valves V in the water circulation conduit 32 are opened and thepump P started to circulate the water under pressure in the direction ofthe arrow 51 through the conduit 32, the grain inlet conduit 20, throughthe vessel 11 and outwardly through the outlet grain conduit 40 into theconduit 32. This circulation of water or fluid in a uniform mannerthrough the vessel enables the grain to become homogenous in characterand thus become a solid substance. This, of course, means that when thegrain is milled, the grain will not break up, crack or snap, and, ofcourse, will handle much better. Also this process enables larvae,insects and the like to be killed and also cuts infestation of thegrain.

After circulation, the lower valve V1 in fluid circulation conduit 38 isopened and valve V2 in the conduit 50 is opened to drain the water orfluid out of the steeping tank. When such valve V2 is opened in theconduit 50, it also simultaneously releases pressure on the system.After the air pressure and fluid have been drained from the system, thegrain product is then removed outwardly through the outlet grain conduitby opening the closure means 41 for removal of the grain product.

d. closing of the vessel from the circulating fluid;

e. injecting air under pressure into the vessel until the air pressurereaches a desired level;

f. circulating the fluid under pressure throughthe vessel and grain; andI g. removing the fluid and releasing the air pressure from the vesselwhen the grain therein is a homogenous mass capable of being easilyhandled.

2. The steps as set forth in claim 1 including the step of removing thegrain from the vessel.

o: a a

2. The steps as set forth in claim 1 including the step of removing thegrain from the vessel.